Gary Keedy and Simon Kerrigan added yet another twist to Lancashire’s increasingly nail-biting bid to win the LV=County Championship – and they are planning for more turns to come!

The spin duo put the Red Rose in a strong position on day two of their crucial clash with Hampshire at Aigburth after bowling 48 consecutive overs between them.

They claimed all five Hampshire wickets – with Keedy taking 3-58 and Kerrigan 2-85 – as the visitors ended on 229-5, still 159 behind Lancashire’s first innings total.

And with both causing problems with turn and bounce, they will be key to securing what could be a decisive win in the battle for the title.

It is just the third time the duo have played together this season, and could well be the last in a Red Rose home game.

At 22, Kerrigan is seen as the long-term replacement for Keedy, who has produced the goods for Lancashire year after year since arriving from Yorkshire in 1995.

But the switch could come much sooner than expected, with Keedy mulling over an offer from, ironically, title-rivals Warwickshire as well as a new deal from Lancashire.

Although losing 36-year-old Keedy – who has claimed 53 wickets so far this year – would be a big blow, it would be softened by the fact Kerrigan is waiting in the wings.

But Kerrigan believes he, Keedy and the third left-arm spinner in the Red Rose ranks, Stephen Parry, can thrive by working together.

“He has had a big influence on my career,” said Kerrigan. “He is really good to work with in the nets.

“Obviously we are disappointed if we are left out of the side but it is good to have three left-arm spinners in the squad. It means when you are training you are pushing yourself all the time because you know there is competition for the place.

“If you were the only spinner on the staff the temptation may be to slacken off. But there is no room for that in this squad.

“Keeds is a good bowler to work with and we showed here we can work well in tandem if we get the right wicket. He is a great bowler to have around.

“It is down to me and him to turn it on in the rest of the game.”

Stunning

With Jimmy Adams and Luke Dawson putting on a century opening stand, Lancashire’s 388 looked vulnerable on a good- looking pitch.

But Kerrigan made the breakthrough by bowling Dawson for 54, while Keedy accounted for Michael Carberry in the same way off the last ball before tea.

Paul Horton then produced two stunning catches at slip as Kerrigan deceived Adams, who went for 54, and then Keedy got the better of James Vince.

And when Neil McKenzie was caught by Gareth Cross off Keedy, Hampshire had slumped to 186-5.

Things could have been even better for Lancs, however, had Cross been able to take a difficult chance off Sean Ervine, who will resume today on 52.

Earlier, Glen Chapple fell just three short of his first century in seven years, but not before he – and a career best unbeaten 18 from Kerrigan – helped Lancashire to four batting bonus points.